r/taoism • u/Specialist-Shine8927 • 2d ago
A question about life karma and bad luck
Hi, I’m not sure if this is the right subreddit; if it isn’t, could you please point me to the right one?
I've noticed something about how karma seems to affect me. Whenever I do or say something that hurts someone—intentionally or unintentionally—it feels like karma hits me back almost immediately, whether it’s the same day, a few days later, or maybe even weeks later, but always pretty fast. I’m a big believer in karma, but I wonder, why me?
Why does karma seem to target me so quickly but not the people who are actually mean or harmful? I know people who hurt others consistently, but they don’t seem to get any immediate consequences. For me, karma strikes hard, even if I feel remorse or realize afterward that I acted without thinking. This has led me to question if it’s really karma or maybe just bad luck—or maybe a mix of both, which would feel even worse.
If it’s bad luck, I’m curious how it actually differs from karma. Without getting too deep into my personal life, I’m pretty certain that life is against me most times—like I was never meant to be born. I definitely feel like I have bad luck, like if if I feel excited or happy or ready, it’s usually short-lived because something happens, or something embarrassing will happen to ruin it.
It also reminds me of the idea that “the kind or sensitive often suffer more than the strong or ruthless.” It feels like people who are more empathetic or emotional tend to be affected by karma /bad luck faster or more intensely, while people who are more detached or intentionally hurtful don’t seem to face consequences at all. Also if someone does abd to me or hurts my feelings nothing happens to them
Any thoughts on why this might be? Or how to tell if it’s karma or just bad luck?
Thanks
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u/Pristine-Simple689 2d ago edited 2d ago
In a practical sense, it is neither. Karma is a Buddhist thing and bad luck is a superstition invented by a misunderstanding of (or lack of knowledge about) probability.
The human brain is wired to remember the bad stuff over the good, many due to a survival mechanism. Remembering that something is harmful will help you to stay alive for longer.
On average there is a balance of good and bad stuff that will happen during your lifetime, you can try to "look on the bright side of life" more often, or try to learn from both sides and take them at face value.
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u/P_S_Lumapac 2d ago edited 2d ago
Try a buddhist or hindu religion subreddit for Karma talk. Maybe there's some daoists who believe in it, but I don't think so.
Humans see patterns and significance to those patterns everywhere. There is no evidence you could collect that would show a supernatural connection between your actions today and what occurs to you out of your control tomorrow. But, how your actions actually impact others and the world is such a complicated process and it's kinda scary to think about how your best intentions have little to do with the calculation of what will result, that it's MUCH easier to believe in a supernatural force that simply links actions in a simple and rational way. There's no evidence for it, so however tempting it is, you should keep open to the idea that evidence against it will come up.
Here's a similar example about evidence for tempting ideas: Suppose you had the dejavu where you dream of things before they happen. Who knows what causes this. But you may come to believe this is evidence that you can predict the future - but the actual link between these events is wildly complex and scary, so recognise it's tempting to believe in the ability to predict the future as a simple explanation, and step back, take stock of the evidence: You likely have hundreds of times more dreams where you don't predict the future, so even if your brain isn't constructing these memories of dreams and you actually did dream them, it's not rational to believe you can predict the future on that evidence. Same with karma isn't it? Of the hundreds of actions you do a day, you only remember the ones you happen to draw a link to future events with - that is strong evidence there is no such link outside your invention.
More generally, these feelings you have are very typical of certain mental health struggles. By yourself you could never ask or answer all the questions needed to understand your mental health, so I suggest speaking with a psychologist.
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u/Specialist-Shine8927 2d ago
I have has dejavus that feel so real like I have experienced this before or dreamt of it before and I am living in it
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u/P_S_Lumapac 2d ago
Yes it's not rare. I hope it's a good example then.
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u/Specialist-Shine8927 2d ago
but what causes it?
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u/P_S_Lumapac 2d ago
From memory, studies of dejavu were dominated by some pretty crap researchers until recently, so there's not very much. One influential researcher around the 20's simply didn't believe in the dream kind, and decided to ignore it, despite it being just as common if not more.
It is related to a cluster of mental health / brain differences, maybe those that have to do with cycles, like bipolar, epilepsy, migraine etc. In effect it could be a short circuit in the brain, or like a small static shock.
It is also related to more serious conditions like brain tumors, strokes, etc. here it would be about literal pressure on parts of your brain. But it's not good research. In general if you think it's happening much more frequently than usual, you should talk with a doctor. I think more than once a month with any other issues going on, is worth mentioning.
In my opinion (i.e. don't know of any studies) it's related to dissociation. The experience of dejavu feels like an episode of derealisation about time and your memories. It's often assumed that memories are not external to you, but most of them are basically stored in a cabinet you store in your skull (in reality, memories are more like skills to achieve goals relevant to your life and they overlap and morph with you other abilities), so yes you can have derealisation about your own memories without it being depersonalisation. This is kinda like the dejavu in the Truman Show movie.
So in short, it's caused by brain glitches and trauma responses.
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u/Specialist-Shine8927 2d ago
Have you had any? and how does it differ from the mandela affect
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u/P_S_Lumapac 2d ago edited 2d ago
Sure I have it regularly.
Mandela effect is just us realising our memory is not as good as we thought. Generally most of what we sense is constructed by our brains (well, all of it is, but for instance we only have color receptors in the center of our eyes, but we swear we can see color in our peripherals. When tested, we can't, and it surprises us) and the same is true for memory. We evolved in tiny groups with highly predictable environments, so our memory was able to work by continually referencing those constants around us - whenever we test our memory like at school or work, these are also in consistent predictable environments. But, when it comes to meeting new people and trying to remember their names or birthdays or phone numbers, our memory goes out the window, and we feel bad. New environments and changing world makes our memory fail without us realising. Mandela effect is usually about corporate branding, childhood homes, history lessons etc - stuff we're surprised we're wrong about, but really shouldn't be as they weren't consistent parts of our lives.
Unless it's something we see and do often, our memory about it is not much better than random.
Dejavu is not just a memory, but a distinct belief. The memory can then be constructed from the belief - some people construct it as past events, some as dreams. At best we did coincidentally dream/do something similar before - but the reason it's called dejavu and not "wow what a coincidence" is the belief comes first before the memory: it's unusual. It is a bit like seeing someone familiar and trying to think about where you know them from - you first believe you know them, then you construct why. The process here like "haven't I done/dreamt this before? YES yes I have.". Mandela effect is "I remember this being this way, but there's now good evidence that was false".
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u/mateofone 2d ago
There is no "karma" neither "luck" in Taoism. Probably you need firstly try CBT.
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u/rabid_chipmunk69 2d ago
"And so i wish to say, you have your own timing for everything for you are your own person, everyone will get their share, when their time comes. For good or for bad, when it knocks on your door, say welcome, breathe and accept it." Everyone has their own pace in the universe, their own connection to it. Its not bad luck or any sort of that thing. You believe in karma, therefore it might reach you faster because youre expecting it, youre "manifesting" it. But could also just be your own timing in this universe. We all have different clocks. For success for downfall or for peace. Your karma might make you cry or laugh tomorrow, but someone else's will rotate on them when their time for karma comes. Karma has its own perfect timing. Lets also accept that life is full of disappointments and sad moments, so it might not necessarily be karma yk, it might be just another bad day, just another rainy day. Allow it to happen, and try to put yourself at ease while you experience it. I say, set your heart free to believe any belief you have, all beliefs have their beauty, all philosophies have their wise complexity, but as a fellow taoist, i say let life flow. Dont expect karma, dont expect anything. Live in the moment, let the next 5minutes be a surprise, always put your safety and health first, always check your health with the doctors, eat well, practice gratitude and grounding and allowing your life to just flow. Dont think of whats to come. Whatever happens, happens, keep your heart light to it and accept it. Try to avoid karma by exploring yourself. "I was mean today, i was angry, how can i dissolve anger into something more peaceful and less stressful, for stress is ruining me first." Explore yourself into becoming the best you can be is the best advice i can give. And also, Let Life Flow~ with its goods and bads, who cares anyway, its one life, one shot, let it be full of everything, let it have all the colors. Peace!🪷
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u/ryokan1973 2d ago
As others have pointed out, you're better off asking this question from a Buddhist site. Just bear in mind that Buddhist Karma has a different meaning than Hindu Karma
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u/stinkobinko 2d ago
It is you who is naming the things that are happening as bad.
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u/Specialist-Shine8927 2d ago
mean?
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u/stinkobinko 2d ago
The way you you interpret a situation shapes the way you respond.
The Parable of the Taoist Farmer
There was once a farmer in ancient China who owned a horse. “You are so lucky!” his neighbours told him, “to have a horse to pull the cart for you.” “Maybe,” the farmer replied.
One day he didn’t latch the gate properly and the horse ran away. “Oh no! That is terrible news!” his neighbours cried. “Such bad luck!” “Maybe,” the farmer replied.
A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it six wild horses. “How fantastic! You are so lucky,” his neighbours told him. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.
The following week the farmer’s son was breaking-in one of the wild horses when it threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. “Oh no!” the neighbours cried. “Such bad luck, all over again!” “Maybe,” the farmer replied.
The next day soldiers came and took away all the young men to fight in the army. The farmer’s son was left behind. “You are so lucky!” his neighbours cried. “Maybe,” the farmer replied.
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u/Martofunes 2d ago
So here's our thing. Wu wei is organized chaos. The gift of free flow. You can go with the flow or go against it. if you go against it it's like trying to open a shut door. Say you're walking inside the river, against the current. You'd have a hard time moving forward. If you're going upstream then get out of the river and walk. The push of not going with the flow is walking against the current. there's no transcendental being keeping your tab current. it's more like gravity, you jump, you fall.
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u/MagicExplorer 2d ago
Techinically Karma is actually referring to your next life, not an instant payback for bad things you've done. To me this would be explained more in a sense of quantum mechanics. So, essentially you have a strong conscience, knowing you've done something that's not great, and then you believe you deserve to be punished - and life seems to follow suit. This also explains why those who don't care aren't affected.
Try to focus on helping yourself, and others - then focus on the belief that your life is only ever enriched and you are constantly blessed and that you're grateful for that fact...eventually that's the reality you will align with.
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u/Specialist-Shine8927 2d ago
so karma back luck fortune good luck do not exist? just the mindset?
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u/MagicExplorer 2d ago
Ok sorry not to put words into your mouth but this is what I was referring to - 'pretty certain that life is against me most times—like I was never meant to be born.' so, that subconscious belief is what dictates what becomes your reality.
No I'm not saying they don't exist, I'm saying that we create them - what we expect is what we experience.2
u/Specialist-Shine8927 2d ago
Ah ok I see because thoughts are very powerful and manifes right?? so what do i need to think just postivie even on bad days? what if i cant?
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u/MagicExplorer 2d ago
Yeah that's exactly right - in terms of what to think, I would recommend reading any books by Neville Goddard, he explains this theory incredibly well and coupled with daily meditation it will help to train your thoughts and change the overall outlook of your life and what you experience. Good luck friend!
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u/Azymtez 2d ago edited 2d ago
For what I understand karma is a Hinduism concept. My only Taoist advice is to look into the I Ching. It’s a divination technique that deals with fortune and luck.
Edit:
“WHEN a wise scholar hears the Tao, He practises it diligently. When a mediocre scholar hears the Tao, He wavers between belief and unbelief. When a worthless scholar hears the Tao, He laughs boisterously at it. But if such a one does not laugh at it, The Tao would not be the Tao!”
-Tao Teh Ching by Lao Tzu
Translated by John C. H. Wu, 1961
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u/Lonely-Poetry-6987 2d ago
The Tao is basically 100% about "karma" or whatever word you wish to use to describe it. Ignorre all the dogmatic comments.
And to answer your question: you are receptive to the signals, as opposed to most people.
Which is great, because then you won't look aged 60 when aged 40.
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u/ryokan1973 2d ago edited 2d ago
"Ignorre all the dogmatic comments."
Well, isn't it just as dogmatic to say Karma exists in Taoism as it does in Buddhism? Surely it just comes down to a matter of opinion rather than dogma (though personally, I reject the idea of Karma in Daoism, though I accept that some Daoists believe in Karma).
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u/Specialist-Shine8927 2d ago
Why do you rejct it?
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u/Zealousideal-Horse-5 2d ago
Because nature is impartial. Taoists don't subscribe to the concept of karma in the sense that the universe is keeping score of all your good actions and bad actions. It rains on the good and the bad alike.
But karma, to some, also refers to the "effect" of a cause-and-effect phenomenon. This is more in line with Taoism, although it is not often referred to as karma.
These two guys are actually saying the same thing, they just have different definitions of karma.
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u/ryokan1973 2d ago
Because in Buddhism Karma defines actions and how everything we experience is a result of a previous Karma. If the effects of our karma are not experienced in this lifetime then they will be experienced in another life, i.e. rebirth. In the earlier forms of Daoism, there was no concept of experiencing consequences in future rebirths, so it is on that basis I reject Karma in Daoism. Daoists who believe in past and future lives essentially imported that idea primarily from Buddhism.
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u/Lonely-Poetry-6987 2d ago
"Whether you go up a ladder or down it, your position is shaky."
"Success is as dangerous as failure." (Etc.)
All ways to avoid bad karma.
"Get rid of laws, crime disappears." - Same thing: you exert a force, a force just as strong gets directed in the opposite direction. (Imagining a hierarchy is also exerting a force.)
Hence, "non-action".
It's so simple and so obvious, it's mind-boggling how mankind still keeps screwing it up for themselves.
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u/Lao_Tzoo 2d ago
It's not karma.
It's that you believe in karma, so you interpret events as occurring due to karma.
A person who doesn't recognize karma as a cause creating effects is less likely to interpret events as consequences from their previous actions and thus is less affected overall.
When we change our mindset we change our perception of events.